The bridal stage is the focal point of every wedding reception. In fact, many professional decorators have suggested to allocate the biggest chunk of your decoration budget for the stage. This comes as no surprise, as your stage will be the main focus of the event and the backdrop of almost every wedding photo.

Bent on doing it all on your own? You will need a place to jump in. Lisa recommends two key launching points: "A budget and a guest list," she says. "The two are related, and cutting the guest list is the single best way to save money." Once those details are in place, you will have a better sense of the type of wedding that suits you best.

This is actually optional, but we can tell you that a decorated aisle looks better than a plain one. Scattered flower petals and a red carpet are only a few of the many ways you can decorate your aisle. As you walk down that path, you will be happy that you decided not to leave it empty.